(Re-)conceptualisation in asperger's syndrome and typical individuals with varying degrees of autistic-like traits

Burnett, H; Jellema, Tjeerd

Abstract

The abilities to form new concepts from scratch(conceptualisation), and to flexibly switch from one conceptto another (re-conceptualisation), were investigated inadults with Asperger's Syndrome and in typically-developedadults with low and high autism spectrum quotients.In consecutively presented morphs, containing increasingpercentages of animate or inanimate objects, the emergingobjects had to be identified. The abilities to conceptualiseand reconceptualise became increasingly impaired withincreasing autistic(-like) traits. Across both tasks, allgroups recognised animate objects quicker than inanimateobjects. However, this ‘animate advantage' was differentlyaffected by the two tasks. In the Reconceptualisationtask, the ‘animate advantage' gradually disappeared withincreasing autistic(-like) traits, whereas in the Conceptualisationtask it remained present.

Citation

Burnett, H., & Jellema, T. (2013). (Re-)conceptualisation in asperger's syndrome and typical individuals with varying degrees of autistic-like traits. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 43(1), 211 - 223. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-012-1567-z

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 29, 2012
• Online Publication Date: Jun 29, 2012
• Publication Date: 2013-01
• Deposit Date: May 15, 2022
• Journal: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
• Print ISSN: 0162-3257
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 43
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 211 - 223
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-012-1567-z
• Keywords: High functioning autism; Animacy; Object recognition; Concept switching; Autism spectrum disorder; AQ
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/429136